GUS (Gave Up Smoking) is a community support diary for Kossacks in the midst of quitting smoking. Any supportive comments, suggestions or positive distractions are appreciated. If you are quitting or thinking of quitting, please -- join us! We kindly ask that politics be left out. You can also click the GUS tag to view all diary posts, or access the GUS Library at dKosopedia for a great list of stop-smoking links. Check it out!
Happy New Year, everyone!
All ready for your fresh new start?
Your blank slate?
The first day of the rest of your life?
You are? Well, awesome! You've definitely come to the right place.
After all, we know a thing or two about fresh starts and new days and blank slates and suchlike here in the GUS community. Many of the regulars here are experts on the subject, having faithfully made resolutions to quit smoking each New Year's Day, sometimes for many years in a row.
Were all of these resolutions successful? Nope...not even close! Pretty sure it's safe to say that the majority of them tanked, in fact. And that's okay, actually, because like many things, from riding a bike to playing Carnegie Hall, quitting takes practice.
Sure, some were lucky the first time out of the gate; others tried dozens, even hundreds of times over the years. Most of us fall somewhere in the middle, and you may be relieved to discover that all of those things are pretty normal. People are different, and they react to quitting in different ways.
It's nearly impossible to pin down one best way to quit, but there is something that every single successful quitter has in common with each other (besides our mutual addiction to nicotine, that is!): we all kept trying to not smoke until it finally stuck.
Maybe you impulsively picked today to quit smoking. And you're doing okay so far -- it still being Day 1 and all -- but you've just realized that that this just might be the first day of a whole new way of life, and recognized all that entails. What seemed like a good idea last night might feel little more overwhelming in the cold light of day. Or it may finally have sunk in that life is about to be really different for you (and also for the people in your life...you know, the people who are irritating the crap out of you right about now), and you're fighting the urge to wig out.
And you may be discovering that with that realization -- hey! no more smokes EVER!! o noes!! -- came some anxiety, uneasiness, maybe even fear, because, well, the unknown can be scary, forever is a lot of days, and if you aren't even sure how to get through one day, how in Hell are you going to get through all the rest of them, forever?
Don't worry. You will get through them. You'll make it.
As I pushed my cart through the grocery store earlier today, I noticed the big aisle-end displays, and thought "...marketing people really have our number." What's on display in the spots recently filled with high-calorie holiday nostalgia (Christmas cookie ingredients, chocolates, eggnog)? Why look! It's Special K, Balance Bars, and Slim-Fast! And check out those magazine covers, plastered with articles about getting organized, whipping your finances into shape, meeting goals, creating work-out plans, starting your own businesses, going back to school...they know that right about this time of year, we collectively decide to clean up our acts, make big lifestyle and behavioral changes, and embrace whatever self-help message is aimed in our general direction.
Because we DO like fresh starts. We like the idea that this year will be different (and believing, on some level, that "this year will be better"). Blank slates may be scary, but they're also exhilarating, energizing, and empowering. Where so many people run into difficulty is trying to take on so much change, all at once, and then punishing themselves -- or worse, giving up -- when they fail to make that 100% change immediately and permanently.
Real behavioral or lifestyle change doesn't work that way. The more rigid you are about your fresh start, the more likely you are to bail if or when you slip up, or don't do things perfectly (and how dare you not be perfect, right?). The reality of successful behavior modification is to approach it as a work in progress. To see it as a change you can make today, rather than a change you have to adhere to forever. Forever is daunting. Today? Not so much.
Your quit may click right away. You may be bumming a smoke before the clock strikes midnight. If that second one describes you, don't beat yourself up. Try to remember that every day (including tomorrow, and Monday, and the day after that...) is an opportunity for a fresh start, and that one of those days, it'll click. Keep on trying. If you need a little help along the way, you know where to find us.
Current members of the GUS team:
1BQ, 3rdGenFeminist, Abra Crabcakeya, addisnana, AfroPonix, aishmael, Alpha99, A Man Called Gloom, ambeeeant, American in Kathmandu, amk for obama, andsarahtoo, Anne933, anodnhajo, aoeu, aquarius2001, arcadesproject, Archie2227, Arthur Wolf (in memoriam), assyrian64, awkawk, b4uknowit, bamablue, BARAKABETH, barnowl, b barrie, bdizz, beatpanda, BFSkinner, bgblcklab1, BigAlinWashSt, Bike Crash, BirderWitch, BJKay, bleeding heart, blingbling65, blue husky, Blue Intrigue, BlueJessamine, bluestatedem84, BoiseBlue, Brahman Colorado, breedlovinit, BrenP, BrowniesAreGood, bsmechanic, buddabelly, burrow owl, BusyinCa, Carol in San Antonio, CathodeRay, cee4, Cen Den, ChocolateChris, ChurchofBruce, citizenx, Cleante, Code Monkey, Colorado is the Shiznit, coloradomomma, Common Sense Mainer, congenitalefty, coppercelt, dadanation, dangoch, Dauber, Dauphin, demkat620, Dexter, Diana in NoVa, Dickie, DiegoUK, Dingodude, dirtdude, distraught, djMikulec, dolfin66, donnamarie, Donna O, dotsright, DRo, droogie6655321, duckhunter, Eclectablog, EdgedInBlue, effervescent, El barragas, el vasco, ericlewis0, Everest42, Ex Con, fhamme, Fineena, fiona2, fishhawk, Flea, FlipperWaves, flumptytail, FrugalGranny, Garrett, Gator, gchaucer2, Geiiga, Georgianna Darcy, glpaul, GN1927, gooderservice, gooners, gravlax, greylox, grndrush, GrumpyWarriorPoet, Haole in Hawaii, henlesloop, HeyMikey, hideinplainsight, High Tide, hiliner68, hold tight, hulibow, I love OCD, Im a frayed knot, imisa, Indexer, indubitably, indyada, Interceptor7, inventor, I said GOOD DAY sir, itsbenj, Jahiz, JamesEB, janl1776, JayinPortland, jayjaybear, jbou, Jeffersonian Democrat, jmadlc55, Joe's Steven aka Steven, john07801, johngoes, jsfox, JVolvo's Mom, jwinIL14, kai99, kailuacaton, Kelly of PA, kestrel9000, khloemi, Khun David, Kitsap River, Kodiak54, Ksholl, labwitchy, Lady Kestrel, ladypockt, Lahdee, langerdang, LarsThorwald, last starfighter, Laurie Gator, Lipstick Liberal, litoralis, lmdonovan, lockewasright, longislandny, luvsathoroughbred, maggiemay, magicsister, mango, Marc in KS, marknspokane, maryabein, Matt Esler, mdemploi, Micburke, michael1104, Mikeguyver, MillieNeon, Minerva1157, MinervainNH, Missys Brother, mjbleo, MnRaindog, Morague, Mr Bojangles, mrsgoo, mskitty, msmacgyver, MsWings, nannyboz, ncsuLAN, NearlyNormal, Nick Zouroudis, notgivingup, NY brit expat, one pissed off democrat, operculum, OrangeMike, Ordvefa, OverTheEdge, paige, PaintyKat, paradox, parryander, Pennsylvanian, phrogge prince, Positronicus, post rational, Proud Mom and Grandma, psycho liberal, ptolemynm, Purple Priestess, PvtJarHead, racheltracks, randallt, real world chick, red mittens, Reepicheep, regis, relentless, revelwoodie, revsue, Rex Manning, rexymeteorite, RiaD, rickeagle, ridemybike, rightiswrong, rincewind, rkex, roadlion, Roger Fox, Rosebuddear, roses, rscopes, Rudini, Safina, SallyCat, Sark Svemes, sboucher, scooter in brooklyn, Scrapyard Ape, seenaymah, sfbob, sgary, Shahryar, sheddhead, Shifty18, shmuelman, shopkeeper, slowbutsure, smartcookienyc, smeesq, snoopydawg, snorwich, SnyperKitty, SoCalHobbit, sofia, soonergrunt, sostos, sowsearsoup, SpecialKinFlag, spmozart, spotDawa, SpotTheCat, StateofGrace, Statusquomustgo, sunbro, Super Grover, tallmom, Tay, teknospaz, ThAnswr, theatre goon, The Eyewitness Muse, TheStoopingRabbit, TigerMom, tiredofcrap, tonyahky, Toyotabob7, Treefrog, triciawyse, trs, trueblueliberal, ttanner, Tulsonian, Turn VABlue, Turtle Bay, Tyto Alba, uc booker, Unduna, Unforgiven, ursoklevar, Vacationland, valadon, Vayle, Vetwife, vgranucci, waytac, webranding, weelzup, Wes Opinion, willy be frantic, willy mugobeer, Wood Dragon, wolfie1818, Wordsinthewind, Wreck Smurfy, x, yet another liberal, Zotz
Had some experience with the effects of smoking?
Has your life been affected by smoking or smokers in your life?
Feel like providing a supportive place for quitters and would-be quitters to hang out?
If so, we would love to have you write a GUS diary or host an open thread! Please sign up in the Butt Can (Tip Jar), and name the day and time that works for you (AM, PM, late-night, early-bird...)
Regular diary slots are indicated by **asterisks** but you don't have to commit to that...a random, whenever-you-can-find-the-time diary would be just fine by us, and very much appreciated!
Sat PM: Vacationland (You Are Here)
Sun Am: racheltracks
Sun PM: ** Safina **
Mon AM: ** 3rdGenFeminist **
Mon PM: ** Vacationland **
Tue AM: Open
Tue PM: ** aoeu **
Wed AM: Open
Wed PM: Open
Thu AM: ** FrugalGranny **
Thu PM: Open
Fri AM: ** flumptytail **
Fri PM: Open
Sat AM: Open
As you can see, there's plenty of room on the schedule, especially in the middle of the week. Gonna be around and willing to take a hosting slot? We'd love to hear from some new voices! Not sure where to start? Go here to find out how to host GUS the easy way!